civil adj

1 applying to ordinary citizens; "civil law"; "civil authorities"

2 not rude; marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal) adherence to social usages and sufficient but not noteworthy consideration for others; "even if he didn't like them he should have been civil"- W.S. Maugham [syn: polite] [ant: uncivil]

3 of or occurring within the state or between or among citizens of the state; "civil affairs"; "civil strife"; "civil disobediece"; "civil branches of government"

4 of or relating to or befitting citizens as individuals; "civil rights"; "civil liberty"; "civic duties"; "civic pride" [syn: civic]

5 (of divisions of time) legally recognized in ordinary affairs of life; "the civil calendar"; "a civil day begins at mean midnight" [ant: sidereal]

6 of or in a condition of social order; "civil peoples"

English

Pronunciation

• /ˈsɪvəl/, /"sIv@l/

• Rhymes: -ɪvəl

Etymology

From Latin civilis meaning that it refers to "civilized city dwelling" as opposed to the rural ways of the countryside.

Adjective

1. Having to do with people and government office as opposed to the military or religion.

   She went into civil service because she wanted to help the people.

2. Behaving in a reasonable or polite manner.

   It was very civil of him to stop the argument.

Derived terms

• civil society

Translations

• Dutch: civiel (1)
• French: civil (1,2)
• Hebrew: ציבורי (tzibury) , ציבורית (tziburyt) (1)
• Ido: civila
• Interlingua: civil
• Italian: civile
• Spanish: civil
• Swedish: civil (1)
• Portuguese: civil (1,2), civilizado (2)
• Russian: гражданский

Spanish

Adjective

1. civil

Related terms

• civilizar

Swedish

Adjective

civil

1. civil
2. artig
3. hövlig

Conjugation

Civil may refer to:

• Civic virtue, or civility
• Civilian, someone not a member of armed forces
• Civil disobedience
• Civil law, multiple meanings
• Civil liberties
• Civil rights
• Civil service
• Civil action, or lawsuit
• Civil society

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